Ariadne, the abandoned princess of Crete, recounts the events leading to her desertion on the island of Naxos by the prince Theseus. The narrative follows Ariadne as she navigates the political and personal dangers of her royal life in Crete, her clandestine involvement with Theseus, and the subsequent flight from her father's domain. The story functions as a first-person retrospective, examining the discrepancy between public perception of her abandonment and her own lived experience. She must contend with the rigid expectations of her station and the volatile nature of the heroes she encounters.

Readers frequently highlight the accessibility of the prose, noting its effectiveness for those learning English as a second language. Discussion often centers on the author's ability to humanize a mythological figure by focusing on her internal motivations rather than just the legendary events. Critics appreciate the balance between the historical atmosphere and the straightforward narrative structure. The work is often praised for providing a clear, engaging entry point into Greek mythology without sacrificing the emotional core of the protagonist's experience.